In search of a good ending

March 3, 2013

Med J Aust 2013; 198 (4): 175.

doi:10.5694/mja13.c0304

Authors: Ann Gregory, Ruth Armstrong

Despite much development and increasing complexity in health care, humankind’s mortality rate remains at 100%. Given the ubiquity of this experience, it could be argued that an important, universal health outcome measure is a “good death”. In the late 1990s, a qualitative study identified five things that people want when they approach the end of life: avoiding suffering; avoiding the prolongation of dying; achieving a sense of control; and relieving burdens on, and strengthening relationships with, loved ones (JAMA 1999; 281: 163-168). More recently, Australian researchers involved with the Respecting Patient Choices Program in Victoria conducted a randomised controlled trial that objectively demonstrated that advance care planning — “whereby a patient, in consultation with health care providers, family members and important others, makes decisions about his or her future health care … should the patient become incapable of participating in treatment decisions” (CMAJ 1996; 155: 1689-1692) — improved end-of-life care and patient and family satisfaction and reduced stress, anxiety and depression in surviving relatives (BMJ 2010; 340: c1345). In this issue of the MJA, several contributions examine end-of-life…